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FAA shutting down Palm Coast training center

Published: Monday, November 19, 2012 at 9:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 19, 2012 at 9:56 p.m.

The Federal Aviation Administration will shut down its management training center in Palm Coast on Dec. 21, eliminating 80 to 100 jobs in the city and the economic boost from the approximately 150 people who train there on an average week, the agency said Monday.

"FAA training at the Center for Management and Executive Leadership (CMEL) will conclude on Dec. 21, 2012," the FAA announced in a prepared statement.

The management classes will be moved to the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City until a new training program is started in the fall of 2013. The agency does not have options for additional time on its lease for the Palm Coast training facility, the FAA said.

The FAA leases the facility at 4500 Palm Coast Parkway SE from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. The FAA's lease for the facility expired on Aug. 21 but it exercised an extension for 120 days. The facility has 198 rooms and eight classrooms as well as a swimming pool.

While no training will be going on, the FAA will be "closing out" operations in Palm Coast between December and February.

"The current employees based at (the Palm Coast facility) will continue to play key roles in the agency's training program," the FAA announcement states.

Monday's news came after months of lobbying by U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, and others to keep the center open. And it comes as Flagler County continues to struggle with chronically high unemployment — the second highest in the state at 11.3 percent in October.

"The closing of the training center won't help those numbers," said Barbara Revels, chairwoman of the Flagler County Commission.

"It's a huge loss to our community," Revels said. "The visitors that came certainly brought their tax dollars with them and when they came hopefully they saw a beautiful community that they could come back to with their families."

The FAA's training center closing comes as the unemployment rate was headed in the right direction. The 11.3 percent rate in October was a decrease from 12 percent in September.

"It's going to be a devastating economic impact just as we are gaining back jobs," Revels said.

Revels, also chairwoman of the Flagler County Economic Opportunity Advisory Council, said it will be a challenge to replace the high paying jobs at the FAA training center. The closing could uproot families, too.

The FAA has leased the facility from Embry-Riddle since 1987.

Embry-Riddle has no plans to sell the facility and is currently discussing options, Embry-Riddle president John Johnson said. Embry-Riddle has discussed using the facility as part of a joint degree program with Daytona State College, which has a campus nearby, Johnson said.

"I think that's certainly possible in terms of the use of a portion of the facility," Johnson said. "At this point we are looking at larger possibilities."

But Johnson said he could not go into details about what those possibilities are except to say they do not involve the FAA.

"We are exploring a couple of possibilities but I'm not at liberty to discuss it right now," Johnson said. "We've got some things in the works."

The FAA will stay at the facility until Feb. 4, he said.

"From our perspective it's paid through Feb. 4," Johnson said.

He said he is not sure what the FAA will be doing between Dec. 21 and Feb. 4.

"I'm assuming packing up and getting ready to move," Johnson said.

The FAA said Monday it has issued a market survey to find companies that might provide long-term management and leadership training. The survey is not a request for proposals but rather will help identify if there are small businesses, including disadvantaged businesses certified by the Small Business Administration and businesses owned by service-disabled U.S. military veterans which could provide the training.

The FAA also is finishing a solicitation for vendors interested in providing the training, lodging and classrooms.

"This new, more flexible approach allows for anticipated cost savings over the previous procurement and will be issued in early 2013," the announcement states.

Palm Coast seemed destined to lose the facility earlier this ear. When the FAA put out its initial request for a new training center it drew up a requirement that excluded Palm Coast from even competing to keep the training center. That's because the FAA's original request wanted its new facility to be within 25 miles of one of the following airports: Kansas City International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport; Denver International Airport; Los Angeles International Airport; General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wis.; and Orlando International Airport.

Kansas City appeared to be a leading site to land the training center.

But then Mica intervened and the FAA stopped its search in March. Mica and local officials argued that closing down the center in Palm Coast would do further damage to a community already struggling with one of the highest unemployment rates in Florida.

Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts and City Manager Jim Landon could not be reached for comment Monday night.

Palm Coast Vice Mayor Bill Lewis said he anticipated the center would close.

"We are going to lose some people who are working there," Lewis said. "We are going to lose the people who were coming in to study and spend money in Palm Coast naturally. There is going to be some impact ... initially it's going to be a little shocking to our economy."

<p>The Federal Aviation Administration will shut down its management training center in Palm Coast on Dec. 21, eliminating 80 to 100 jobs in the city and the economic boost from the approximately 150 people who train there on an average week, the agency said Monday. </p><p>"FAA training at the Center for Management and Executive Leadership (CMEL) will conclude on Dec. 21, 2012," the FAA announced in a prepared statement. </p><p>The management classes will be moved to the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City until a new training program is started in the fall of 2013. The agency does not have options for additional time on its lease for the Palm Coast training facility, the FAA said. </p><p>The FAA leases the facility at 4500 Palm Coast Parkway SE from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. The FAA's lease for the facility expired on Aug. 21 but it exercised an extension for 120 days. The facility has 198 rooms and eight classrooms as well as a swimming pool. </p><p>While no training will be going on, the FAA will be "closing out" operations in Palm Coast between December and February. </p><p>"The current employees based at (the Palm Coast facility) will continue to play key roles in the agency's training program," the FAA announcement states. </p><p>Monday's news came after months of lobbying by U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, and others to keep the center open. And it comes as Flagler County continues to struggle with chronically high unemployment &mdash; the second highest in the state at 11.3 percent in October. </p><p>"The closing of the training center won't help those numbers," said Barbara Revels, chairwoman of the Flagler County Commission.</p><p>"It's a huge loss to our community," Revels said. "The visitors that came certainly brought their tax dollars with them and when they came hopefully they saw a beautiful community that they could come back to with their families." </p><p>The FAA's training center closing comes as the unemployment rate was headed in the right direction. The 11.3 percent rate in October was a decrease from 12 percent in September. </p><p>"It's going to be a devastating economic impact just as we are gaining back jobs," Revels said. </p><p>Revels, also chairwoman of the Flagler County Economic Opportunity Advisory Council, said it will be a challenge to replace the high paying jobs at the FAA training center. The closing could uproot families, too. </p><p>The FAA has leased the facility from Embry-Riddle since 1987. </p><p></p><p>Embry-Riddle has no plans to sell the facility and is currently discussing options, Embry-Riddle president John Johnson said. Embry-Riddle has discussed using the facility as part of a joint degree program with Daytona State College, which has a campus nearby, Johnson said. </p><p>"I think that's certainly possible in terms of the use of a portion of the facility," Johnson said. "At this point we are looking at larger possibilities." </p><p>But Johnson said he could not go into details about what those possibilities are except to say they do not involve the FAA. </p><p>"We are exploring a couple of possibilities but I'm not at liberty to discuss it right now," Johnson said. "We've got some things in the works." </p><p>The FAA will stay at the facility until Feb. 4, he said. </p><p>"From our perspective it's paid through Feb. 4," Johnson said. </p><p>He said he is not sure what the FAA will be doing between Dec. 21 and Feb. 4. </p><p>"I'm assuming packing up and getting ready to move," Johnson said. </p><p>The FAA said Monday it has issued a market survey to find companies that might provide long-term management and leadership training. The survey is not a request for proposals but rather will help identify if there are small businesses, including disadvantaged businesses certified by the Small Business Administration and businesses owned by service-disabled U.S. military veterans which could provide the training. </p><p>The FAA also is finishing a solicitation for vendors interested in providing the training, lodging and classrooms. </p><p>"This new, more flexible approach allows for anticipated cost savings over the previous procurement and will be issued in early 2013," the announcement states. </p><p>Palm Coast seemed destined to lose the facility earlier this ear. When the FAA put out its initial request for a new training center it drew up a requirement that excluded Palm Coast from even competing to keep the training center. That's because the FAA's original request wanted its new facility to be within 25 miles of one of the following airports: Kansas City International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport; Denver International Airport; Los Angeles International Airport; General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wis.; and Orlando International Airport. </p><p>Kansas City appeared to be a leading site to land the training center. </p><p>But then Mica intervened and the FAA stopped its search in March. Mica and local officials argued that closing down the center in Palm Coast would do further damage to a community already struggling with one of the highest unemployment rates in Florida. </p><p>Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts and City Manager Jim Landon could not be reached for comment Monday night. </p><p>Palm Coast Vice Mayor Bill Lewis said he anticipated the center would close. </p><p>"We are going to lose some people who are working there," Lewis said. "We are going to lose the people who were coming in to study and spend money in Palm Coast naturally. There is going to be some impact ... initially it's going to be a little shocking to our economy."</p>